Bag frame hinge



Nov` 19, 1957 w. E. ATKINSON BAG FRAME HINGE Filed Oct. 6. 1953 ATTORNEYS States Patent() BAG FRAME HINGE Application october 6, 1953, serial No. 384,396

,. 1 claim. (ci. lis-16s) The, present invention relates in general to improve- `ments in hinges, and more particularly to improvements in khinges for luggage and bag frames of the type which areshipped from the factory in unassembled condition and are to be assembled by the manufacturers customer.

v Traveling bags Iand like receptacles are in many cases constructed with a pair of U-shaped bag frames or mouth frames which are hinged together and are secured to the free edges of the pivotally related halves of the bag. It is ,common practice in the trade for the manufacturer of suchtbag frames to supply the frames in loose condition, with the hinges secured at one end to the legs of only one of the bag frames. A leaf or strap of the hinge assembly is, in accordance with this practice, fixed to the legs of the opposite bag frame, and the hinge components must be secured together by the manufacturers customer.

The hinge assembly heretofore in common use in the trade comprises an intermediate hinge section including arpair lof transversely interconnected parallel members having hinge knuckles at each end thereof, and a pair of hinge leaves or straps, each secured by a pair of longitudinally spaced rivets to their respective bag frame legs and having al closed tubular formation yto be received between the knuckles at one end of the intermediate hinge section and pivotally secured thereto by a rivet pin extendingY through the aligned knuckles and tubular formation. The manufacturers customer is, therefore, faced with the time-consuming problem of uniting the disassembled hinge sections by inserting the rivet pin through the appropriate portions and forming a head on the free end of the pin.

It is a general object of the present invention tosimplify and otherwise improve the construction of hinges of this character to facilitate the completion of the hinge assembly by the manufacturers customer with a minimum of time and labor, and to improve the strength and manufacturing characteristics of such hinge assemblies.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel hinge assembly for bag frames and the like constructed in such a manner that the hinge assemblies may be shipped by the manufacturer in separated condition and readily assembled by the manufacturers customer.

Another object of the present invent-ion is the provision of a novel hinge assembly for mouth frames for travelling bags and the like which may be shipped in separated conditions and assembled by the manufacturers customer by a single clinching operation on one component of the hinge assembly.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel hinge assembly for bag frames and the like wherein the hinge straps are formed in such a manner as to facilitate locating and placing of the hinge strap in proper position on the bag frame legs to be iixed thereto by a single rivet.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a hinge assembly for bag frames and the like wherein a portion of each hinge strap extends through its ICC associated bag frame leg to achieve greater security kand strength.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, showing only a preferred embodiment of the invention, i

in the drawing: l

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a hinge assembly and associated bag frame legs embodying the present invention, showing the hinge assembly in separated condition as shipped from the factory;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the hinge assembly in assembled condition, with the bag frame vlegs disposed in fully opened condition; and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical cross section taken along the lines 3 3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference .characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, only one of the hinge connections for `the bag frame legs of a travelling bag or like receptacle is shown, since both hinge connections of the pair of U- shaped frames are identical. A pair of inner and outer bag frame legs to which the hinge assembly is connected is illustrated, the outer frame leg comprising a channel or angle iron member 10 opening toward the exterior of the bag when the bag frames are in open position and having a flange portion 11 projecting perpendicularly therefrom and adapted to embrace the corresponding ange portion 12 of a corresponding channel or angle iron 13 of the inner bag frame leg. The two frame portions are disposed in nested relation when in closed condition, in accordance with the usual practice in structures of this character.

The hinge assembly, generally indicated by the reference character 15, comprises an intermediate hinge section 16 to which the ange-carrying sides of the leg chan@ nels 10 and 13 are to be pivotally connected at their extremities. This intermediate hinge section is in the form of an open frame having a pair of laterally spaced parallel side members 17 having upstanding lugs 18 forming abutment stops to limit movement of the bag frames toward each other. The sides 17 are interconnected by a plurality of cross members including transversely extending end straps or pivot bars 19 `at opposite ends of the sides 17 and an intermediate cross brace 20 having an aperture therein adapted to receive a bolt for securing the intermediate hinge section 16 to the travelling bag body.

The intermediate hinge section 16 is to be pivotally connected with the leg channels 10 and 13 by means of a pair of hinge straps 21 and 22, respectively, which are to be interfltted with the transverse end straps 19 of the intermediate hinge section 16. The hinge straps 21 and 22, which .are identical in construction, comprise an elongated body of sheet metal 23 having a tongue 24 at one end thereof extending at right angles to the plane lof the body 23 for approximately the thickness of the flange-carrying sides of the channel members 10 and 13 and then projecting outwardly of the body again in a plane parallel to that of the body 23. These tongues 24 are adapted to be projected through slits 10' and 13 in the flange-carrying sides of the channel members 10 and 13, respectively, and underlie and frictionally contact the under surface of the channel members to unite the hinge straps 21 and 22 with the bag frame legs. The opposite ends of the hinge straps 21 and 22 carry a bight or hook-shaped portion 25 adapted to extend about the transverse end straps 19 of the intermediate hinge 16 and form a pivotal connection therewith. Intermediate the ends of the hinge straps 21 and 22 at the sides thereof are laterally projecting ears 26 forming abutment stops positioned. to cooperate with the lugs 18 on the intermediate hinge section 16 to contact the same and prevent further pivotal movement of the hinge straps 21 and 2,2l toward each other. t

An aperture is also provided in each of the hinge straps 21 and 22 intermediate the ends thereof for the reception of a smal-1 rivet 27 to be extended through the hinge strap and the flange-carrying sides of the channel members to x the hinge straps in position on the bag frame legs in cooperation with the tongues 24.

In the manufacture and assembly of the hinge unit for shipment to customers `of the manufacturer, the two hinge straps A21 and 22 are assembled to the ange carrying sides of the channel members 10 and 13 by inserting the tongues 24 of the hinge straps through the accommodating apertures 10 and 13 and into securing relation thereunder and fixing the rivets 27 through aligned apertures in the hinge straps and channel members. Not only do the tongues 24 which project through the channels increase the strength of the unit, but they materially aid in production by locating the straps in proper position for insertion of the rivets 27. The bight 25 of the hinge strap 21 is then closed about the transverse end strap 19 of the intermediate hinge section 16 adjacent the hinge strap 21. The bight 25 of the hinge strap 22 is left in open condition and is shipped with its attached channel member 13 in separated condition relative to the intermediate hinge section, the hinge strap 21 and its associated channel member 10.

The customer may then assemble the bag frames 10 and 13 by inserting the open bight 2S about the remaining transverse end strap 19 and clinching the bight 25 into completely closed condition about the strap 19 by a single operation of a conventional clinching tool. Such a construction represents a substantial saving in labor on the part of the manufacturers customers as compared with the assembling operation required for prior hinge units for bag frames in whicha rivet pin must be inserted through the intertting components and closed.

While but one preferred embodiment of the invention has been particularly lshown and described, it is apparent that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in the appended claim.

What is claimed is.:

A bag frame hinge assembly comprising in combination with a pair of bag frame channel members each having transverse elongated slots extending through their adjacent ends, a pair of elongated hinge straps of sheet material each having an integral tongue at one end thereof to be projected through the transverse slot adjacent one end of one of said bag frame channel members and underlie an undersurface of the channel member in frictional contacting relation therewith and a deformable hookashaped bight at the opposite end thereof formed about a transverse axis, and an intermediate hinge section comprising a sheet metal frame arranged in the -form of an upwardly opening elongated channel having a pair of laterally spaced parallel sides constituting the channel side members and an interrupted web portion constitut ing the channel web and formed of a Yplurality of nar-- row transverse coplanar web members integral with said sides and extending between the lower edges thereof, said web members including an apertured intermediate cross member and a pair of pivot bar members, said pivot bar` members being spaced oppositely from said cross member and located at each end of said hinge section, the bights at the ends of said hinge straps being deformed into substantially closed cylindrical shape about said pivot bar members to pivotally support said hinge straps on said pivot bar members, said elongated hinge straps being narrower than the spacing between said hinge section sides to enable the bights of said straps to fit freely between said sides, a pair of oppositely projecting abutment stop ears integral with said straps extending laterally through the planes'of said sides from each of said straps in coplanar relation therewith adjacent said bights, and upstanding lugs integral with said sides and lying in the planes of said sides extending upwardly from the upper edges thereof lhaving abutment shoulders disposed substantially in Vertical alignment with the axes of said pivot bars to `abut said abutment stop ears on approaching movement lof said channel members and limit approaching movement thereof.

Referencesv Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 146,270 OKeefe Jan. 6, 1874 941,040 Petri Nov. 23, 1909 1,636,971 Tucckmantel July 26, 1927 2,207,836 Sundell July 16, 1940 

